India’s road infrastructure transformation begins in Chhattisgarh

At the Indian Road Congress, Gadkari reveals comprehensive plans to bring Chhattisgarh’s roads up to American standards, boosting safety and sustainability.

At the 83rd Annual Convention of the Indian Road Congress in Raipur, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari promised that Chhattisgarh’s roads would soon rival the condition of American highways. Gadkari unveiled a vision for making India a global infrastructure leader, with projects totalling ₹ 20,000 crore that include plans for four-lane highways, new flyovers, and eco-friendly innovations. The event, held in Raipur’s Science Ground, stressed long-term prosperity, economic resilience, and the importance of infrastructure in a developing India.

Gadkari declared that India’s road networks would meet American standards within two years, with Chhattisgarh serving as a shining example. He approves a number of large projects, including the four-laning of national highways from Dhamtari to Jagdalpur, Raipur to Balodabazar-Sargarh, Katghora to Ambikapur, and Bilaspur to Akaltara-Raigarh up to the Odisha border. In addition, Raipur’s traffic environment will be transformed by new flyovers at the Sarona, Udyog Bhawan, Telibandha, and Dhaneli crossroads. Single-lane and two-lane highways are being constructed for remote areas to improve connectivity throughout the state.

In his remarks, Gadkari praised the country’s engineers as modern-day ‘Vishwakarmas’ who play an important part in India’s development. “Each of you has made significant contributions to the nation’s development. Our Prime Minister’s aim is to transform India into a $5 trillion economy capable of self-reliance. For this, we will need to make advances in industry and agriculture,” he states, encouraging the technical community to adopt sophisticated engineering principles while saving public funds.

Gadkari highlighted an environmentally friendly alternative: a bamboo crash barrier developed in Chhattisgarh. “This eco-friendly innovation has the capacity to replace steel,” he remarks, encouraging engineers to use bamboo instead of iron in Chhattisgarh’s projects, benefiting local farmers who produce bamboo.

“Roads are the arteries of our economy,” states Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, underlining the importance of infrastructure in driving economic progress. Sai emphasised Chhattisgarh’s desire to align with India’s objective to become a developed nation by 2047, with the goal of doubling its GSDP by 2028.

Beyond development, Gadkari emphasises the critical need to prevent road accidents by pressing for higher engineering and safety standards. “We need concerted efforts to improve road engineering and prioritise road safety,” he says, advocating for a technological approach to reducing dangers on India’s roadways.

CM Sai spoke about Chhattisgarh’s commitment to environmental balance. With the transportation sector accounting for 40 percent of the country’s pollution, Sai urged officials to pursue integrated road development with environmental considerations. As Chhattisgarh celebrates its silver anniversary this year, he claims delight in the state’s hosting of the IRC convention, commending Gadkari for his sanction of ₹ 11,000 crore in state-focused projects.

The ceremony featured three new road construction and safety criteria, which represent a step forward in quality standards and technology usage. A road safety guidebook and a memento from the Indian Road Congress were released, demonstrating the commitment to a safer, more efficient road network.

With lofty goals, Gadkari’s remarks in Raipur mark a revolution in India’s infrastructure development, guided by innovation, environmental friendliness, and safety. India’s future is on track, thanks to a combination of solutions such as bamboo crash barriers and biofuels, as well as quality engineering.

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